TEACHER vacancies have doubled in the past two years with a record 44,000 leaving their jobs in the last year alone, government statistics have revealed.

Figures published today show the number of teacher vacancies rose from 1,100 to 2,300 over the two years ending in November.

Temporarily filled teacher posts rose from 1,800 to 3,000 over the same period with 44,000 teachers leaving the state sector in 2021-22: 7,800 more than the previous year.